Thicker Sandpaper?

[bstoehr52]

Hi all! My hobby is restoring vintage tools. (Big surprise why I'm posting here)

I've run into the constant annoyance that when sanding surfaces, especially when wet sanding with WD-40 as my medium, the sandpaper I buy degrades fast.

Also it hurts my hands to use and pinch onto for a while.

I know there are sanding blocks, but what sandpaper or Emory type material is out there that is more "rigid" or thicker backing that can withstand the abuse? It also needs to be able to withstand constant forming into folds and different spaces.

What about sanding blocks? Any luck with them and if so, what brand?

Thank you!!

 

[RTM]

Silly question, but I assume you are using wet dry sandpaper? I have a bunch of Norton at home, like 120 to 2000, and I don't wet sand much, but never had a problem with the backing failing. But I also start higher grits, and expect less removal as a tradeoff. I only use sandpaper to remove rust from finished surfaces, like the bottom of a plane, or the blade of a saw. Nothing abrasive on cast iron.

I typically use a wooden block, the sandpaper stapled on for large areas, or held overlapped for smaller areas. Bunch of scraps for getting into the occasional odd space.

 

[bstoehr52]

Wow, I am an idiot. The sandpaper I am using isn't rated for wet use. I assumed wd-40 didn't constitute "wet" use...

So no, not silly, I'm just dumb .

Thank you

 

[Farmer J.]

There's some good ideas and a lot of experienced shared in the 'Rust Removal' thread, in the stickie.

rust removal

I read about the 3M bristle brushes, and decided to give them a try. I wanted ones for my larger buffer/grinders, so I located some 8" versions.. With careful shopping on Ebay, they were available for around $50. I purchased a Yellow, Red and Blue wheel. each had a set of sleeves to fit...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Farmer J.]

Yea, WD40 will help it fall apart. !
Most durable flexible abrasive I have found is a roll of Emery Cloth that someone gave me years ago. It's cloth instead of paper, with Corundum as the abrasive so good on metal and very strong and it doesn't mind WD40

 

[Dave455]

Yes, as Farmer J says, the best thing to use is Emery Cloth - the key word is “cloth”. It’s fabric backed so much more durable than paper.

You will also find that different makes perform very differently. Emery cloth from a good maker, such as Norton, lasts far longer than the cheaper products.

If you don’t have a good industrial supplier locally, it’s worth using a firm such as MSC.

I try and minimise the amount of sanding I do. I clean any rust chemically now, using either Evaporust or Boric Acid. Most times I can get away with just a rub over with a Scotch pad.

If an item need’s polishing (which is great at preventing re rusting) then I tend to use emery cloth roll in progressively finer grades, followed by a buffing wheel and polishing compound.

 

[crguy]

A lot of people use Sandflex rubberized abrasive blocks to clean tools. They come in 3 grits.

 

[RTM]

A lot of people use Sandflex rubberized abrasive blocks to clean tools. They come in 3 grits.

My favorite for things like calipers and dividers, removes the rust, doesn't make them look sanded.